Owning a Dog Versus Owning a Cat

Dogs Verses Cats Dogs and cats are the two most common animals among pet owners. Each provides unconditional love as well as health and emotional benefits for the owners and each are fairly equal regarding responsibility and care, however, dogs and cats each have unique qualities. There are numerous benefits to pet ownership, whether one owns a dog or a cat.

It is reported that pet owners live longer and healthier lives than individuals without pets and that blood pressure can fall to resting levels or below just by petting an animal (Health pp). The cholesterol levels of pet owners are two percent lower and heart attacks are four percent lower in pet owners compared to non-pet owners (Health pp). Moreover, the survival rate of people who have had a heart attack and own pets increased from one in fifteen to one in eighty-seven (Health pp).

Petting or stroking a cat or dog can be very relaxing and a great stress relief and even just watching or touching a pet affects people physiologically (Health pp). It is reported that handicapped people and those who live alone feel more self-confident and safe in social situations when accompanied by a pet and are more motivated to get out and exercise and stay fit when they have a pet (Health pp). Owning a pet may also be good for your mood.

According to studies conducted on men with AIDS and with senior citizens pet ownership can help relieve symptoms of depression (Benefits pp). A study published in the March 1999 Journal of the American Geriatrics Society showed that senior citizens who own pets are less likely to be depressed, are better able to tolerate social isolation than those without pets and activity levels increased regardless of the kind of pet the individuals owned (Benefits pp).

Moreover, pet owners who live alone say that they are less lonely and report fewer minor health problems (Benefits pp). It is believed that pets may help relieve stress and anxiety by encouraging playfulness and promoting laughter (Benefits pp). Experts believe one reason pets may have such therapeutic effects on people is comfort, pets are soft, soothing to stroke and nonjudgmental and seem to meet the need for companionship and relationship building that is not always available to some individuals (Benefits pp).

The sense of responsibility associated with caring for a pet is significant for many people because nurturing an animal may expand a person's ability to generate social ties (Benefits pp). Companionship is equally important to both cat and dog owners, however, there are differences regarding behavior and health issues (State pp). Dog owners are nearly twice as likely, 2.3 compared to 1.6, to visit the veterinarian than cat owners (State pp). The top three behavior problems experienced with dogs are barking and growling, 17%, jumping on people, 13%, and begging for food, 11% (State pp).

The top three behavior problems with cars are clawing the furniture, 20%, climbing on furniture or counters, 16%, and eliminating in the house outside the litter box, 10% (State pp). The top method of handling their pet's behavior problem for both cat and dog owners use disciplining or scolding their pet (State pp). Health problems vary regarding health issues of dogs and cats (State pp). The three greatest health problems for dog owners are fleas and ticks, ear infections and allergies (State pp).

The three single greatest health problems for cat owners are hairballs, fleas and ticks and urinary tract infections (State pp). Perhaps the issue of elimination is one of the largest differences regarding maintenance between dogs and cats. Dogs must have accessibility to the outdoors, either a backyard or routine walks by the.